The Green Wave punter is on his way to a breakout campaign with a punting average good for seventh in the nation.
For a second time this season, Tulane Green Wave punter William Hudlow was named as a Ray’s 8 Week Four winner for the Ray Guy Award on Monday.
Hudlow has broken out out of nowhere after being on the Green Wave roster since 2023 but didn’t see playing time until recording one punt against Charlotte in 2025.
As the team’s primary punter in his fourth season, he’s shined.
Hudlow is currently seventh in the nation with an average of 47 yards per punt and second in the conference.
Against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Hudlow punted seven times for 380 yards with an average of 54.3 per punt with a long of 69 yards and one placed inside the 20 in the 24-21 win on Saturday.
Now, there’s something to be said about having to punt on seven of 15 possessions. That’s almost half.
In 14 games last season, punter Alec Clark punted 48 times, which comes out to a bit more than three punts per game.
But it doesn’t take away from Hudlow’s performance that immediately has had an impact on the defense.
If a team’s offense is struggling, a defense can keep them in close games. If they have twice as much field position to cover, those odds are even better, and that’s where a strong punter can really make a difference.
Playcalling also changes when a team is backed up near their endzone.
This season, Hudlow has had six of his 23 attempts land inside the 20 and has had 11 go for 50 or more yards.
In Clark’s 48 punts last season, 16 were inside the 20 and 16 traveled 50 or more yards. He averaged 46.52 yards per punt, which Hudlow has a better average than.
In fact, the only punter in program history who Hudlow has a single season punt average lower than is Ryan Wright.
Wright is currently kicking for the New Orleans Saints on a four-year, $14 million deal.
Those stats can’t be discounted. As the rest of the Tulane team is still trying to find their way heading into conference play, they’ve figured most of special teams out.
The punt return penalties have wiped out a lot of Hudlow’s work.
But they have a kicker who can make a 58-yarder and a punter who is seventh in college football in his average.
That hidden element of the game can be a difference maker, and the Green Wave can get a lot of help from Hudlow.
